Surprise and revelation, shock and disappointment - the emotions that drive every footy fan. They bring people together to either share in their frustrations or revel in their unfiltered joy.
Whether it is through player improvement or through coaching methods, every action has an equal and opposite reaction to what fans have come to expect from the years prior, with a player's form or a lapse in coaching sometimes either making or breaking a season.
Accounting for this, I took a look at each team's surprise player or coach and each team's shocking disappointment.
Richmond
Surprise: Sam Cumming
A standout rookie from the 2025 draft class, Cumming has had all the opportunity he could hope for on an injury-riddled Richmond side and has made the most of it. Already one of the better ball users in the team, he's a player who can ignite a lot of needed energy.
Shock: Tom Lynch
It's been one of the lowest goal-scoring seasons of Lynch's career and with that has also come a decline in most major stat categories. Age may have caught up with the spearhead as he struggles to get into games at times and has lacked the confidence to kick truly, at an alarming 35.3 per cent conversion rate from goal.
